DVD Architect & Panasonic LF-D521

[Unimaginable Horror]

I've had massive issues trying to get DVD Architect to play nice with the Panasonic LF-D521. Heck, I've had massive problems trying to get anything to play nice with that drive. Anyway, here is the one way that I have been able to successfully burn discs (with NO coasters even using Memorex media) using DVD Architect.

1. Uninstall the Panasonic DVD-RAM Driver.
2. Start Up DVD Architect (please note that I am using version 1.0b)
3. Try to Burn your project - viola! the drive is found, BUT you receive an error when you try to do the burn - data in track not compatible, blah, blah, blah.
4. Shut down DVD Architect.
5. Launch My DVD 3.5
6. After successfully opening My DVD 3.5 and letting it run for a couple of seconds, shut it down.
7. Re-launch DVD Architect
8. Try to burn your project again - eureeka! it works.

I'm not sure why this works, but it does. Now, I have to reinstall the DVD-RAM driver again so that I can view my Ram disks and then uninstall it when I want to burn. This is an insane process, but at least it works. Anyone have any ideas why this works or a way to simplify the process?

*Oh yeah, there was a point where DVD Architect was the ONLY DVD burning software program on my computer, but that didn't work. For some reason it seems to need My DVD 3.5 in order to burn. Weird.

I love both this drive and the program, but getting the two to play together is infuriating.

[Specialist]

I have the Panasonic SW-9571 DVD Multi drive, which is the OEM version of the Panasonic LF-D521.

These drives support DVD-RAM, DVD-R, and DVD-RW in addition to CD-R and CD-RW.

I am achieving success with both Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2 and Ulead DVD WORKSHOP.

In addition, I am able to use Ulead VideoStudio 7.0 and Ulead MediaStudio Pro 7.0 and their built-in DVD-VR functionality to capture, edit, and export video in DVD-VR format using the DVD-RAM functionality of the Panasonic SW-9571 DVD Multi drive.

Ulead VideoStudio:

http://www.ulead.com/vs/trial.htm

Ulead MediaStudio Pro:

http://www.ulead.com/msp/trial.htm

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Unimaginable Horror]

That's interesting because I also tried to use Ulead DVD Movie Factory 2.0 and it would recognize the drive, but not any media in the drive until I uninstalled the DVD-RAM driver. I still think there is something funky with this drive's compatibility with burning programs. I can't get it to work at all with Nero 5.5. 10.28. By the way, I'm operating under Windows 2k Pro.

[disturbed1]

There's an update of DVD-A (1.0c). It does fix a few of the serrious errors in the 1.0a, and b versions.

FYI, Panasonic LF-D311/321 are the only Panasonic/Matsushita drives listed as being supported by DVD-A. Doesn't mean your drive won't work though, just means it isn't guaranteed.


Why not just output a title set, then burn the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders, if you can find a stable burning app like Primo DVD, or Record Now Max.

Do you have an up to date ASPI layer? That might fix some of the drives problems.

Check Panasonic's site for a driver and or firmware update.

[Unimaginable Horror]

Thanks for the suggestions, disturbed1.

I haven't had a chance to download the 1.0c version, but hopefully will get a chance to do so soon.

I did see that they only approved support for the LF-D311/321, but I thought that there wouldn't be that many differences between the old drive and this new one (LF-D521).

I tried to burn the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS using Nero, but for some reason it didn't like the files. I got an error saying something like video file reallocation failure. I haven't tried Primo DVD or Record Now Max, but will give them a try and see if they fair any better.

I did look at the Panasonic site for driver/firmware updates, but I seem to be up-to-date at this point. Hopefully, they will come out with some update that will fix these issues.

Thanks again for taking the time to help me out with your suggestions.

[Specialist]

As I mentioned, I have the OEM version of the LF-D521... the SW-9571.

The drives are physically identical.

Mine is working great.

But my SW-9571 is in an externally cooled Firewire enclosure.

This is plugged into my computer using a Firewire cable, which is plugged into an OHCI compliant 1394 controller card.

I'm also running a Panasonic IDE LF-D321, which is the retail version of the LF-D311.

So my system has two of these Panasonic DVD drives and they're working great.

It might be interesting to note, however, that my LF-D321 was installed prior to my purchase of the SW-9571.

So that meant I had to uninstall the DVD-RAM driver for the LF-D321 first.

Then I had to DISABLE the LF-D321 drive in DEVICE MANAGER.

Then I ran the CD for the SW-9571 and told the installation to display "a list of available drivers."

I then searched through the list that appeared, which included all of the various Panasonic drivers.

I chose the SW-9571 driver.

Then I booted.

Presto!

The SW-9571 drive showed up in MY COMPUTER properly - with *both* a CD-ROM icon *and* a removable disc drive icon.

Then I re-enabled my LF-D321 and it took the LF-D310 driver.

Both are working perfectly.

The latest drivers for the OEM drives are located here:

http://panasonic.jp/dvdram/lim/eoem/

I didn't spot anything for the LF-D521 per se, but it's physically the same drive as the SW-9571 as far as I know.

Anyway, my two drives both show up as expected in all of my ULEAD applications for DVD authoring.

But I seem to recall that it is necessary to put a disc into the drives before they'll show up.

My burns are working perfectly, I might add.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[jessieqwert]

I think the easiest way would be to tell Architect to "Prepare DVD"
This will compile a VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders.
Then use Nero to burn it as a DVD image.